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Globeleq appoints new private customer solutions director

Electricity company Globeleq has appointed Alasdair Martin as private customer solutions director, a role positioned at the centre of the independent power company’s strategy to expand private-sector energy partnerships and support the transition to cleaner power in Southern Africa. In the newly created position, Martin will be responsible for developing and delivering customised power solutions for energy-intensive private customers. His mandate includes originating, structuring and executing long-term power partnerships that enable commercial and industrial clients to secure reliable, cost-effective and more sustainable electricity supply.
January 19, 2026 by

Trump offers to mediate Egypt-Ethiopia dispute on Nile River waters

US President Donald Trump offered on Friday to mediate a dispute over Nile River waters between Egypt and Ethiopia. “I am ready to restart US mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia to responsibly resolve the question of ‘The Nile Water Sharing’ once and for all,” he wrote to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in a letter that also was posted on Trump’s Truth Social account. 
January 19, 2026 by

Questions raised about Eskom’s revised unbundling plan

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the December announcement by power utility Eskom and government of a revised unbundling plan for the State-owned entity; the reasons given for not transferring ownership of Eskom’s transmission assets to the Transmission Systems Operator; and the concerns raised about this revised approach.
January 16, 2026 by

CHARGE proves viable charging of electric trucks using offgrid solar

Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) has successfully charged for the first time in South Africa an electric truck using fully offgrid solar-powered public charging at its Wolmaransstad site. This marks a historic milestone for South Africa’s transport and energy transition and signals that electric freight, powered entirely by renewable energy and independent of the national grid, is no longer a future concept but a present-day reality.
January 15, 2026 by

DLO launches fully sponsored renewable energy skills programme for emerging professionals

Renewable energy company DLO has launched a fully sponsored skills training programme aimed at equipping emerging professionals and entrepreneurs with the technical and financial capabilities needed in the green economy. The initiative, called ‘Introduction to Project Finance Modelling in Renewable Energy’, will provide training to 50 participants, focusing on practical skills in building and analysing financial models for renewable energy projects.
January 15, 2026 by

SAIA launches national campaign to promote safe, compliant residential solar systems

The South African Insurance Association (SAIA), in collaboration with municipalities, national industry bodies, insurers, financial institutions, fire protection organisations and civil society, has launched the Safe Solar PV & Storage campaign to promote safe, legally compliant solar installations in South African homes. This national awareness drive supports both new and existing residential solar PV customers, aiming to ensure their systems are safe, registered, compliant with standards and insurable.
January 15, 2026 by

SAWEM market code and rules to be first order of business for new Nersa advisory forum

The immediate priority of the Electricity Market Advisory Forum (EMAF), which was appointed by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) in December, will be to offer input on the regulatory instruments needed to facilitate the launch of the South African Electricity Wholesale Market (SAWEM), including the market code and rules, as well as the trading arrangements and platform. The 14-member EMAF is yet to be formally convened, but Nersa executive manager for electricity regulation Rhulani Mathebula has been appointed by the regulator to chair the forum, which is expected to be formerly launched in the coming weeks.
January 15, 2026 by

Solar body concerned that revised Eskom unbundling plan could stymie crucial grid investment

The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has added its voice to those expressing concern about the potential negative consequences arising from the revised unbundling plan for Eskom, which was announced in December. Under the revised structure the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) will remain a subsidiary of Eskom Holdings and will continue to own the transmission assets, while a separate Transmission System Operator (TSO) will be set up outside Eskom to handle system and market operation, but without owning the underlying infrastructure.
January 13, 2026 by

South Africa leads Africa’s renewable energy transition, report shows

South Africa continues to lead Africa’s renewable-energy transition, offering a growing range of investable opportunities in wind, solar, biofuels and green hydrogen, according to the latest Forvis Mazars ‘Powering Africa’s Future Energy’ report. The report highlights that South Africa generated more than 50 TWh from renewable sources in 2024, including hydroelectric at 10.1 TWh, solar at 8 TWh, wind at 9 TWh and other renewables rounding out the remaining 27.1 TWh, positioning the country as the continent’s top producer.
January 12, 2026 by